I wonder how much the campaign in #Scotland for #scottishindependence is driven by a need for more local rallying points or for simple self-expression and self-assertion? I mean, have they lost much by their union with England?

Thoughts? I don't really know, but am curious what people think who do.﻿

Brendan Foley: I don't know, man. Still doesn't seem like an "unthinkable" situation in Scotland. Might depend on the source of information, or maybe we just have different ideas of what makes something unthinkable, even on economic grounds.

And the distinction between colony and "homeland" might actually work in the reverse direction as you are indicating. Seems like the Scottish have a far stronger history of being distinct culturally and politically from the British, as having a stronger Scottish identity in it's own right. The U.S. colonies were mostly people who immigrated to or lived under the idea of being somehow part of the "mother country". ﻿

Ryan Haber: True, true.

No, I didn't mean that independence is unthinkable, but only that before Europeanization, it was unthinkable, at least to many of its citizens. I think it's pretty well documented that independence movements in Europe, also notably the Catalan movement, have gained steam since the EU has strengthened. A good reason for that is that the Scots, for instance, will still have the same access to English markets as they do now, provided they are both in the EU.﻿

The little daily mass chapel where I was blessed to hear mass and receive communion today. If you haven't heard or read the Mass readings for today's mass yet, do look them up. Today is also the feast of St. Jude, and the novena prayer we prayed after mass was very lovely.

Never give up hope. If you feel something clawing at you desire to go forward, do not give up. Drop me a line instead. 2rh﻿

Late last night, my phone fell into the toilet. I whisked it out, dried it, disinfected all surfaces, and put it into a bag of rice overnight. Nine hours later, I'm happy to report that it looks like it is working OK. Really, actually.

At least for now, if all systems keep working, I have an LG G2. We'll see if it goes haywire or other problems manifest later.﻿